Characters involved are: Rico (RED), Kaori (ORANGE), Yasha (GREEN),
Logged by Rico

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Entrance - Aphel Aura, City of Shevat(#2933RCJ)
Stepping up from the elevator, just beyond the bright arch over head is what appears to be a floating city within this entire structure. The outer atmospere can be seen from here as well as what lies far far below. A set of stairs lead down and <northwest> towards the actual city itself. You could also head back to the <overworld>.
Contents:
Yasha
You will not receive Public messages.
Shevat's still not very open to visitors and especially not ones who look as flamboyant as the Phoenix and the demihuman at her side. But strange times make strange bedfellows eh? Yasha's not here too long, just picking up data from the sensors and checking out how things look from the skies. Why'd she bring Rico? Good question. She's relieved Van and Rimov to sit back with the Gears and process the reports but taken the Gear trainer with her to a trot to Shevat's overworld which shows off the skies. She reaches the entrance to the city but doesn't go in. Is she looking at it with some wierd expression in her eyes? Yeah but then she shrugs and looks down to the ground far below. Lets Rico ask first.
Stier> Daphens (Gear) has arrived.
Stier> Kaori has arrived.
Stier> Kaori heads north.
Stier> Kaori has left.
Kaori has arrived.
This is different. A break from the drills and practices, and Rico tags along on a trip to that floating city he had checked out before. It certainly looked smaller from the outside, but he wasn't really expecting something so...extravagant? Pretty? Well, not one to muse on those sort of things, Rico simply looks around him, at what he can see of the floating city. It's not often his curiosity is piqued quite as much as it has been by this great flying mass. He takes a few further steps before noticing the lack of a Yasha beside him, and looks back. 2Something up, boss?".
"Yeah.." She kinda shakes herself a few times. Stupid memories and those thoughts in her head. There's a war to fight and sensors to read and all that good stuff, no time to get caught up in her own head. Yasha flicks her bangs out of her eyes and looks at Rico. "Tell me what you think about this city, this Shevat? They are our allies but I think this is the first time you have been up here yes?"
Rico nods. He cannot be anything but impressed with this marvellous creation. "Yep, it is. This thing is...impressive...". Well, Rico has only that strong of a word to describe it. A recent addition to the Kislev skyline does not come along just every day. "It's damn impressive. I've seen it once or twice before, passing, but didn't think I'd get his close a look." Yes, there was that slightly less than authorised peek a few weeks ago, but that's not something you report. "What made them become allies with Kislev all of a sudden?". That's it, Rico. Use the thir person to remind them where your loyaly lies. Everyone is allowed be petty sometimes.
Clomp, clomp, clomp. Yep, that grand tradition of shoes hitting the ground. Kaori's gaze is still tipped a bit low-- the other day's encounter with Jalon's left her in a bit of a dour mood. At a glance, she's painstakingly tall-- about a foot shorter than Rico himself, thickly-gloved hands half-tucked into her pockets while walking at a slow pace, the length of her thin braid bouncing on her back with each step. Enh? And they are...? Her gaze locks on the pair for a moment, looking them over briefly... almost like an option mode, she juggles her choices-- speak to them, or keep walking.
"I would think when they found out about the Solaris treaty with Aveh." Yasha says that pretty casually but there's a lil' bit of aloofness in her voice at it and the raise of her chin. From mention of Solaris, y'know? Country's pride too. "There is history you see." Yasha sticks her hands into her pockets still standing next to the edge and looking down, the winds that don't get entirely filtered out from the force fields tossing her ponytail and making the nice bright parts dance. "There is very much history with the Queen, yes? Which was to favor the Fatimas. The Fatimas joined with Solaris." The Phoenix shrugs a shoulder. "It was not too hard to see that Shevat would fail if it did not also have an ally in this." She tenses only in the muscles between the shoulderblades when she hears noise but doesn't turn around yet, still thinking.
Rico glances over at the newcomer, not speaking until he is spoken to. It was all very well being brash in Kislev, but where he is unknown, he is just a Demi-human, an object of ridicule, or in his case, usually fear. He turns his attention back to Yasha, and barely blinks at the little bombshell she drops. A...peace treaty? So, that little brat had finally sold out. Mighty pirate, indeed. Probably got spared his life by Solaris when they crushed another of his dumb plans. Peace treaty. Heh. More like covering his ass for a screwup. Still, not being one to take speculation too seriously, even his own, he nods. "Didn't know about that. I suppose that makes sense.".
It's not quite fear on her face-- more curiosity. She's seen a few Demi-humans in Nortune at a good distance, just not up-close... and especially in her hometown. Kaori's finger glances across her nose for a moment, and she nods at Rico, slowly making way over. Well, maybe this'll make for an interesting day after all... stop by Deep Sea Bros. later for a drink, mayhaps. The scenery ... well, return to clean air is a good change, and her feet turn to make way over.
Well, this was a little unexpected. usually, people divert their steps the other way, whichever way _away_ from the demihuman was. This woman looks almost interested. Still, it takes all types, and Rico will consent to not bite, or eat her, or steal her children, or whatever other horror stories he had been accused of. Still, it is a welcome change, and Rico does not speak, stil, only nodding to the person approaching, and looking back toward Yasha.
The Phoenix shifts her hands in her pockets and plays with loose change while she thinks. "These things that people make each other do. It makes you realize sometimes.." She cuts herself off as she also senses the approach and turns around, framed by the sky and the open space while she blinks against the wind. Hrm. A Shevvite. Yasha twitches her mouth wryly but smiles and continues playing with the change. "Hello there. We will be leaving soon if this is a problem for you."
Kaori scratches her head a bit as she goes through the thick gloves, shaking her head. Her fingers pass over a sort of button on the backs, pushing them down with mild click noises before a bit of a smile crosses her own face, slightly forced due to her mood lately. Gah, need more happy pills... A short nod, however, "Hi." Short, to the point... but she shakes her head a bit. "No, it's alright. We don't often get guests up here, so it's sort of a welcome change. With the Kislevi army, I take it?" she asks, tilting her head slightly as her thumbs hook into the edges of her pockets.
Rico nods, almost automatically, not wishing to impose on Yasha's duty to answer, and probably identify herself with some sort of military somethingorother, and probably salute. Well, he is just Rico, the guy who makes it hard for recruits. Far be it from him to speak when not spoken to, I suppose.
Good man, Rico. Yasha's not feeling really up to being all spiffy and military. Shevat kinda does something to her head, makes it filled with more static and the feeling like she's supposed to be really sad about it or something else wierd like that. "We are here for the aerial sweep reports. My men are taking in the data back at the radars but we have come here to observe by sight." This includes Rico, why not. She nods her head in his direction and takes her hands out of her own pockets, fingers held loose but away from her sides. "Are you with the defenses here, yes? How has Shevat been?"
Kaori nods. Well, looks like Rico's the subordinate here... she waves one hand off to the side in a lazy gesture, looking off into the skyline. "It's been pretty quiet, to my knowledge. Welcome relief, I guess, unless I get into a 'beat-up-a-wall' mood." She brushes her bangs back, "... But yeah, I'm with the defense forces." A reach into her jacket-- no, not for her gun, for her canteen.
Rico thinks. Hm, sometimes he gets into beat-up-a-wall moods. Sometimes the wall wins, sometimes not. But he suspects it's different in Kaori's case. Still, he remains the silent partner, not being one for small talk at the best of times. And for Rico, this is the best of times. I mean, -look- at this place. He looks around, then; his interest in Kaori drifting a bit.
Since Rico doesn't look comfortable with talking too much, Yasha takes up the conversation. "Yes, I know that quite well." Yasha laughs a little and smiles. "I have looked forward to working with you very much. We are also strangers to your city, yes?" Sort of a lie in the Phoenix's case but shh. "Is there anything that we should try to see while we are here?"
The tall woman's hands settle on her hips. "Well, like I said, we welcome most all..." Kaori says with an affirmative nod. Yes, even Solarians are welcome! We have special cell--err, rooms just for them. "Well, I dunno if you have the time for it, but if you go look for the Pavillion in the palace, it's got one hell of a view." A slight snicker, and she looks around. "... Well, not that you don't have one everywhere else already."
Rico manages a...grin, at this? She wasn't kidding. He looks out pas her to the view outside. He has only now gotten used to the rather disorienting feeling of walking on a giant city in mid-air, but this is really something. He at least hopes he gets to see this view Kaori mentions. there is time, isn't there? Still, if Yasha wants to, he won't complain. He won't ask, either. Because he doesn't care, honest. He aslso seems not to care that he is staring. Woooow. "You got that right...".
Either way, Yasha's here to let Rico get a sight of the place. Anything works. "We will stop by the Palace if we have a chance to, I think?" She also goes back to looking around. "It is very impressive Mr. Bandaras isn't it? How long have you been living here if I can ask?" That's to Kaori. "You must very much want to protect something this beautiful wouldn't you?"
Yasha has disconnected.
Stier> Firebird (Gear) falls asleep.
Kaori grins a bit. "I usually spend a bit of time just staring at the skies every day." A look to Yasha, now... "Queen Zephyr lets people walk around pretty freely, too..." And... a bit of a hmm, and glance upward. "Well... ... let's see... I'm 25 now... so..." A nod, and a bit of a snicker hiding behind her voice. "Born here. And ... well, those that threaten the peace get the business end of Daphens's gun."
Yasha has connected.
Stier> Firebird (Gear) wakes up.
Kaori grins a bit. "I usually spend a bit of time just staring at the skies every day." A look to Yasha, now... "Queen Zephyr lets people walk around pretty freely, too..." And... a bit of a hmm, and glance upward. "Well... ... let's see... I'm 25 now... so..." A nod, and a bit of a snicker hiding behind her voice. "Born here. And ... well, those that threaten the peace get the business end of Daphens's gun."
Rico manages a little chuckle at this. "Some of the new kislev recruits could learn a thing or two from you, I think..." he offers, smiling slightly. That's the kind of attitude Rico likes. If something threatens your home, you mangle it.
It's what Yasha likes too. "That is a very good way to look at things," she laughs, planting her hands on her hips. She watches the clouds for a minute. C'mon, small talk is good. "No one should be threatening Shevat itself I hope? Then it is good to have a center of calm. How are your resources?"
Kaori grins a bit. "Well... I like to play things inconventional. Large gatling rifles, and such..." A slight chuckle tugs at the words, nodding. A wave of her thickly-gloved hand, "Nothing's being a threat at the moment, unless you count the same persistant annoyances from Aveh and Gebler." Her bangs and braid drift a bit in the breeze.
Rico chuckles a bit with the others. "I'm more of a hand-to-hand person myself. But guns can provide a little help, at a stretch...". Not one for guns was Rico, even though the Stier had some mounted, he just...doesn't use them that much these days, when a solid thrashing will do. "Once you don't start relying on them.", he adds, knowing full well how easy is it is to crush an opposing gear when it runs out of ammo. But, he's rambling, by his standards, he clears his throat and steps back, looking over a railing down at the ground, the two behind him apparently dismissed for now. At least, in his own mind.
Yasha finds one of those railings and leans on it easily with that kind of nonworry that you get either from growing up lacking common sense or.. growing up lacking common sense. Things in the sky pretty much do. "I have my sabre of course," Yasha laughs and pats the hilt. "But anything that does the job will work for me. Taking things out from a distance is appealing, yes?" The grey of her eyes runs over the forcefield's glow. "I meant for food and for materials. I had it understood to me that Shevat might be eased by having supplies."
Kaori leans against the railing as well, "Well, that's true. But guns, to me, are more a convinence weapon. Pick 'em off from a distance, or just start hittin' them... even if they don't fall, they'll probably be weaker than before, right?" Ah, sabers... her hand reaches into her jacket, more toward her back. A slight *clink* noise, and she pulls an odd sort of sword-- it's not quite a shortsword, but it's not a katana, either... just big enough to keep hidden in the coat. She gives it a bit of a twirl in her fingers, "... Haven't used this ol' thing in ages... I'm probably a little rusty." she adds, holding it in a forward grip. A short twist of her wrist puts it backhanded in her grasp, and slid back into the jacket and sheath 'til it *clinks* again.
Rico looks over at the unusual weapon Kaori is showing. Hm. Wonder what'd happen if I ever started using weapons? Like, a short sword. Or, some nice bladed knuckle dusters. Hmmm, that's interesting. Must talk to hammer about getting some of those. Sure, he could walk into any A-Block weapon shop and buy the finest pair there, but, well, they wouldn't have that slightly warm to the touch feel that hammer's would. Rico smiles. Still. Perhaps I shouldn't push my luck. I just want to bruise 'em, not scar 'em for life. These are pleasant thoughts for Rico. Be afraid.
Hm, the kodachi's a style that Yasha's seen a while ago but not recently. Good to see that they're still being used. "Different taste between distance or right in your face yes? Sometimes you want the impact and sometimes you just want to get past and do what is on your list." Yasha pats the hilt again which starts to warm against her hand but she takes it away. "A lot of people like to use fighting to do nothing else, then there are others which have it as an ends to a means. You could probably guess people's attitudes from the things they use, yes?" She hitches herself up to sit on the rail. "Are a lot of the Defense Forces using that type?"
Kaori adjusts her jacket a bit and nods a bit. "It's pretty good for close-quarters. I tend to use it to block more than attack, though." The tip of her boots tap against the walkway. "Steel-toe... knock it aside and give a good swift kick in the ribs. Works pretty good for me, anyway... the weapons tend to variate between whoever's usin' them." A light shrug, "... But, I don't know. You tend to learn basic hand-to-hand, and pick up a weapon specialization from there. Few people use blades, some blunt, some guns, and some fists. A mild glance over her shoulder at the skyline, and she grins. "I'm just not an Ether person, though."
Rico nods. He finds himself agreeing more and more with Kaori, and begins to hope this place has more soldiers like this. He could -really- get to like this place if that were the case. He should come up here more often. Anyway, enough weapon-talk. It makes him depressed that people need them to be any good in battle. Why train at all, if one careless shot from a laser rifle can wipe out half a dozen good fighters? There's no honour ot skill there. If he had a watch, he'd be looking at it, as he stands back from the railing, silent and pensive, looking out into the sky.
If he'd had a watch then sure but with Rico not talking then it doesn't make much of a signal. It makes enough of one though that Yasha's ears pick up on the silences and dumps the conversation after a laugh and ringing noise of tapping her boot against the rail. Then she slides down. "Is there a good place to have some food here or Mr. Banderas should we go back to check the results, do you think?" Nope, the Phoenix isn't the type of jockey to always need to be in absolute control at every single second yadda yadda. "I do not know what Shevat's local specialties are, I am afraid."
Kaori nods her head toward the town, "There's a pretty good place in town I usually go to, Deep Sea Bros... it's up that elevator. Watch out for the fuzzy door, if cuteness puts you into a murder-death-kill mindstate. I tend to get cheese sandwiches and juice all the time. They have a pretty good selection there, though, so I'm pretty sure there's something you like." Her fingers snap, more of a dull *thiwp* sound instead of the usual noise from the apparel covering her hands-- they didn't look like they were worn for fashion or combat either. Alternative purposes, maybe... "That reminds me, you could probably leave a few recepie ideas there, if you cook. Always looking for something new to try, up here..." she adds with an affirmative nod.
Rico grins, as Yasha moves away from the railing. "Don't mean to rush you, boss." he breathes, as Yasha and Kaori discuss somewhere to eat. Hmm, might not be a bad idea right now. "Might as well see if they eat as well as they fight up here.", he notes, with a smile. Yes, wit is not one of his strong points, either, had you guessed? Still, it amuses him, and he falls in beside yasha, towering once again.
The Phoenix girl taps her foot but just to some internal rhythm, she's relaxing right now and getting past all this wierd Shevat stuff and thinking of a song someone threw her on the radios. "I do not cook I am afraid. I think we could tolerate the cuteness yes?" She grins up at Rico next to her and sorta hangs her hands off her pockets by the thumbs as she checks out where to walk. The elevator huh? Sounds good. "Are there any steaks?" Cool, food works. Let's go for it.
A snicker and grin comes from Kaori, her eyes starting to look a little distracted to even her. "Well, enter at your own risk, is all." A bit of a glance to the side, and she nods. "Yeah, they should have some. I don't see why not..." Steak is good, especially with her medication. A short shrug and nod, "Well, then, I guess I'll be seein' you around?"
Rico can live with steak. It might be a welcome change to eat something that doesn't have grit in it, anyway. He'd taken to eating army food with the recruits, just in case any of the more uncouth of them hadn't already worked out that he isn't the pampered trainer they might think he is. Still, steak. And perhaps that famous view he'd heard about. If he can non-obviously steer Yasha toward it.
Hey, even an obvious steering would work. Yasha's not hard to put requests by. She waves to Kaori with a, "It was very good to meet you and thank you for your recommendation?" Then she's whistling and strolling while she does. The Phoenix'd enjoy sporting Rico to a meal for him and then they could walk around the town. Fact is, Yasha's not at prey to another schedule but she's setting it and she's here to show this to Rico for a reason. So as long as he wants to stay up here and look the better. After food.